New potatoes for Xmas

gazza975526570

A._Badger wrote: »

Where I live (in Kent) temperatures didn't reach the low levels needed to penetrate a large compost-filled bag until after I had harvested the crop. The bags functioned, in effect, much like a traditional clamp.

In my experience, people who get bad results usually live in colder areas, are unlucky with blight (by far the most common cause of failure) or simply don't look after their crops very well.

I accept it's a gamble - but it's an inexpensive one.

Well done - im impressed. There really is no taste like home grown potatoes (Other than maybe carrots.....).

My worry is you see adverts for christmas potatoes and those thin sacks showing tons on new potatoes when in my experience it just doesnt ring true. Id like to think ill still be eating my stored summer crop but the way im getting through them i doubt it!!!

A._Badger

gazza975526570 wrote: »

Well done - im impressed. There really is no taste like home grown potatoes (Other than maybe carrots.....).

My worry is you see adverts for christmas potatoes and those thin sacks showing tons on new potatoes when in my experience it just doesnt ring true. Id like to think ill still be eating my stored summer crop but the way im getting through them i doubt it!!!

Well, yes... advertising!

I grow potatoes in both a raised bed and in bags. The ones in the beds are better, but I can keep the bags closer to the warming influence of the house and steal a few weeks that way. In terms of yield, the results aren't earth-shattering, but they are welcome and useful.

What I haven't yet settled on is which variety works best in bags. International Kidney was disappointing as was Charlotte. Lady Christl (now stored in sacks, replaced by Orla) was OK.... but not as fantastic as some seem to claim.

Funnily enough, my main complaint is a curious 'second skin' phenomenon which I haven't been able to find any references to in my books, nor online. When boiled, the potatoes sometimes seem to have a layer of rubbery tissue which is unpleasant and unsightly.

I've theorised that it might be to do with erratic watering but I recently bought some commercially produced new potatoes (variety unknown) that were just the same!

If anyone has any ideas what causes it, I'd be grateful as it is really irritating to find in potatoes that, otherwise, would easily win prizes in the local show for blemish-free appearance and uniformity.

Farway

taxsaver wrote: »

Am I understanding this right then..... you can simply plant some Charlotte potatoes that you buy in the supermarket for eating - just plant them and they'll grow?

Some may not, depends on the supermarket as some spray the spuds with anti growth chemical to stop them sprouting, Lidl do not, hence my suggestion of Lidl

Otherwise give them a gentle scrub under clean running water to remove any possible anti sprouting chemical